Signal control



June 10, 1941. ML'EBERGLUND 2,244,981

SIGNAL CONTROL Original Filed Aprily 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E Mezyzfndm By ad a A llorneyLS June'l, 1941. M, F BERGLUND 2,244,981

SIGNAL CONTROL Original Filed April 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvenlof 972026Z",-

I Byn@ M A Homey' June 10, l94l1- l M. F. BERGLUND 2,244,981

SIGNAL CONTROL Original Filed April 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f1. Jgj'fz,

. Inventor 'ZL? .efyfzziz By Qwms 22m and W mum, iorneus Patented June 10, 1941 SIGNAL CONTROL Malcolm F. Berglund, Chicago, Ill.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

74,353, April 14, 1936. This application December 8, 1938, Serial No. 244,706

3 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in direction signal controls for automobiles and any other type of vehicle upon which the same can be employed, and is a substitute for my abandoned Iapplication Serial No. 74,353, nled April 14, 1936.

The principal object of the present invention i-s to provide a signal control whereby, for in stan'ce, a semaphore arm can be swung to different positions laterally of an automobile body, to warn other automobile drivers that the vehicle is about to stop, turn right or turn lef .U

Another important object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for operating semaphore signals, wherein the suction effect of the automobile engine intake or some other suction eifecting means is utilized and eiliciently controlled to operate the mechanism in a positive and substantially fool-proof manner.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary to-p plan view of the suction line controlling mechanism.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, with the hood in place thereon.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 isa fragmentary detailed sectional view, showing how one of the cylinder connecting tubes connects to the control mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of one of the pivotal connections in the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a. fragmentary top plan View of the apertured plate to which is secured the suction cylinder tubes.

Figure 7 is a top plan View of the shiftalo-le plate, which operates over the opening of the plate shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 3.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of the slip connection used in the brake pedal attaching means.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatical view of the valve means in neutra position.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatical View of the valve means in stop position.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatical view of the valve means in left position.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatical View of the valve means in righ position. I

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the control means mounted on the steering column and in conjunction with the vacuum tank and brake pedal.

Referring to the drawings, wherein likenumerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 generally refers tto control means mounted on a steering column and in operative relation with a brake pedal I through connecting means 6 and a vacuum tank 8.

In carrying out the present invention, a description of the control means shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 will first be given. Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that this control mechanism consists of a plate II having depending end anges I 2-I3 -over which lcan be slipped .the apron-like wall portions ofthe hood I4. in this plate II is the opening I5 and the openings I6, I'I and. I8 into which the tubes 2I I9, 93and 20 extend, as shown in Figure 4, so any desired fluid responsive type signal can be operated.

Rockably and slidalbly disposed on the plate I I is the triangular-shaped plate 22 upon which is located a boss 23. At one side of the boss 23 are the openings 24-25, while at the opposite side of the boss are the openings 2li- 21. A rigid elbow 28 rises from the boss 23 at a passageway therethrough and a tube 29 extends from this elbow, under the plate Ii and forwardly of the assembly 5, to connect to the nipple 3'0 of the vacuum tank 8. This elbow 28 rises through the short longitudinally extendingslot 30 in the slide plate 3|. A spring 32 has one end connected to one end of the plate 3|` and the opposite end thereof is anchored to the plate II, so that normally the plate 3I is retained in the position shown in Figure 1, with the upstanding contact 34 removed `from the spring contact finger 35, which linger is anchored and insulated from the plate II, as at 36.

Numerals 39, 4I) represent elongated arms having handles at their outer ends, while their inner ends are provided with shaft-like eXtensions 4I journaled.I through the end walls 42 of the plate II. The plate II is provided with short slots 43 therein through which the upstanding lugs 44 on the shaft extensions 4I can extend. An extensible coiled spring 33 :connects the upper ends of the pins 44. For each of the arms 39, 40 a link member is employed, the same loeing in the form of a bell crank 45 suitably pivoted, as at 46 (see Figure 5) to the plate II, and being provided with a leg extension 4'I having arched intermediate portion through which the spring 5| extends, the plate 3| being positively secured to the said arched po-rtion of the plate. Loose connections 52a are provided between the ends of the plate 3| and the plate so that the plate 3| lcan orient as the slide plate 22 is slid diagonally on *the plate A member 53 extends from the forward end.

of the slide plate 3| and connects to the eye 54 ofthe slidable rod 55 (see Figure 8). As shown in Figure 10, this rod 55 extendsthrough the openings 56 in the leg portions of a U-shaped clamp 57|. As is shown in AFigure 10 and in Figure 9,the openings 5G are actually slots, permitting a certain amount 4of freedom of theclamp on the rod 55, and a rubber or otherV resilient friction member 58 is interposed between the legs of the clamp member 51 and surrounds the rod 55, as in the manner shown. Anadjustable collar 59 is provided on the rod .55 below the V,clamp 5|.Y Any L-shaped bracket 55) is secured,

as at 6|, tothe usual cowl wall 62 and this has a barrel formation 63 at its. lower end in which l sumed that the driver intends to make aleft turn and wishes to execute the necessary signal.

He presses down on theend of thearm 39 and this rotates the shaft extension 4| through. a short arc, moving the pin 44 in an outward direction in the slot 43 (see Figure 3) with the result that the crank member 45 is swung in a manner to shift the valve plate V22 from the neutral position shownin Figures 1 and 11 to the position shown in Figure 13,'in full lines. In this, latter position the opening 28 which has the suction line 29 disposed therein-is communicating with the opening I1 inthe plate l l through which the tube :I9 extends. Simultaneously the opening 25 in the valve plateY 22 is communicating .the opening I5 .and the tube extending thereto, namely the tube 2| with the atmosphere.

A corresponding action takes place when the lever 40 is pushed down, for when thisitakes place, the valve plate 22 is vmoved tothe full line position shown in Figure vil, .the suction line opening 28 communicating with the plate opening i8 and tube 93.

Whenever the levers 39 and 49 are in neutral position as shown in Figure l1, the VopeningvZ to which the Vsuction line 29 is communicated is registering with the opening I5 in the plate Simultaneously the opening 2l to the atmosphere is registering with the opening I8. YIn other words, operation of the signal always starts from neutral position with the valve-plate 22 positioned as shown in .Figure 11. At this point it willalso be observed that to limit the valve plate in these Vlongitudinally of the plate valve plate 22 due to the towing action of the lspring* 5l to the position shown in Figure 12,

shifting movements, there are provided the stop studs a, b and c. When the valve plate 22 is in neutral position it is centered between Vthe studs as shown in Figure l1. When the valve plate 22 has been shifted to the left signaling position it is stopped between the studs a and c, and when the plate is shifted to right signaling position, the plate is stopped between the studs b and c.

' In the operation of the mechanism to bring the signal to stop position, it is necessary to operate the usual foot pedal S8. When the foot pedal is operated, the member B5 is swung downwardly, exerting a pull on the rod 55' which, in turn, exerts a pull on the bar 3 This pulls the bar 3| Il and moves the abutting the studs a and b, thus communicating the suction line 29 by way of the openings 28 and I6 with the tube 20 to the signal (not shown), and at the same time communicating the signal with they atmosphere by way of the tube `I and openings i5 and 29.v` It will be observed, that the openings 24, 25, 2B and 21 in the plate 22are atmosphere openings for permitting air entrance to the signal to prevent the retarding effect ,of suction, as where pistons are employed. llty will be observed in Figurey 1 that the spring 3,2 serves as retracting meansI -for the bar, 3| and thisin conjunction with `the spring 33 seryesto restore the mechanism to neutral position as shown in Figure l, Whenever the brake pedal is in brake disengaged position and the levers #it and y39 .are unaiiected by pressure. l

While the foregoing specification sets .forth the invention in specific terms, it is to lbe understood that numerous changes `in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionras claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

l. A valve for signal structures including a cylinder having a piston therein operatively Yconnected with a signal element; a multiple ported invention, what ,y is

` valve, cylinder communicating tubesI extending from the valve, said valve being operative to selectively communicate the suction line with the tubes, the valve ends of the tubes being hunched in juxtaposition, said valve including a plate shiftably mounted and having a suction line opening therethrough, said valve plate being in the form of a triangular-shaped plate and a plurality of abutments against which the plate canbe shifted to limit movement in bringingthe plate to proper position registering the suction line opening with the proper tube.

2. A valve for signal structures including acylinder having a piston therein operatively connected with a signal element; a multiple ported valve, cylinder communicating tubes extending from the valve, said valve being operative to selectively communicate the suction line with the tubes, the valve ends of the tubes being bunched in juxtaposition, said valve including a plate shiftably mounted and having a suction line opening therethrough, said tubes having their valve ends terminating under the sai-d plate, and manual means for shifting the plate in selecting which one of the tubes the suction line opening is to be communicated with, said manual means including a pair of swingable handzlevers and link connecting means between the levers and the plate.

3. A valve for signal structures including-a cylinder having a piston therein operatively connected with a signal element; a multiple ported valve, cylinder communicating tubes extending from the valve, said valve being operative to selectively communicate the suction line with the tubes, the valve ends of the tubes being bunched in juxtaposition, said valve including a plate shiftably mounted and having a suction line opening therethrough, said tubes having theirvalve ends terminating under the said plate, and 10 CTI manual means for shifting the plate in selecting which one of the tubes the suction line opening is to be communicated with, said manual means including a pair of swingable hand levers and link connecting means between the levers and the plate, and stop members for limiting the movement of the plate and between which the plate is adapted to abut.

MALCOLM F. BERGLUND. 

